Friday, October 10, 2008

Somewhere far away!



Memories overwhelm me as I write this post! The pictures you see are that of my ancestral home Korajem (named after my late Grandfather Sri Kumaran) in Kannur (erstwhile Cannanore), Kerala. This was where I was born and 'kept' for 63 days before being 'shipped' off to Ooty which was my home for decades to come! Built in 1947, it has seen scores of births, weddings and stood mute witness to a number of deaths as well.

Back then, a typical day would begin with a dozen of us cousins foraging around the vast expanse of this behemoth while the women folk worked tirelessly in its massive kitchen to ensure that our perpetually hungry stomachs were addressed to without complaint. Considering the measureless plantation that grew around the place, it needed constant attention and upkeep, a job that required unimaginably superhuman efforts! Afternoons called for a quick siesta after which play resumed. Coming together here was a bonding like none other.



At dusk, exhausted after a days meandering, we were mandated to wash up and present ourselves for the evening prayers which were attended to religiously. The lighting of the Vilakku (lamp) while all of the family, young and old, gathered to pray, signified the human effort to connect with its Creator and call for peace, health and prosperity in a world that was steadily disintegrating!



Popularly known as Tharawads, across Kerala, these expansive edifices once hosted dozens of entire families who lived with each other without incident. Sadly, they are a passé thanks to the nuclear family culture that has caught up!

Kannur was always a source of immense pleasure to me. Come vacations, we were packed off to enjoy a two-month long sojourn with cousins. The lush green outers, the smell of mud when it rained, the endless supply of mangoes, jackfruit, guavas and pineapples to name a few, trips to nearby paddy fields to catch fish and a whole lot more cherished chores are very vivid in my mind to this day. I last visited here during the year 2006 and without any possibility of being able to do so in the recent future, wonder how quickly I have been overcome by the never-ending search for nothing that I continue to be engaged in day to day!

This post is a rich tribute to all my folks for having been such a wonderful lot and kept in touch all along and more importantly for having withstood the test of time and unconditionally supported each other. And Sandeep, thanks very much for these marvelous pictures!

In conclusion, I'd like to quote lines from Mahakavi Changanpuzha's famed poem Gramabhangi which aptly describes the beauty of the countryside in Kerala.

"Malarany kadukal thingi vingi
Marathaka kanthiyil mungi mungi
Karalum mizhiyum kavarnnu minni
Karayattoralasal grama bangi"

62 comments:

  1. This evokes memories in me, Rak!

    though born in Trivandrum city, I am just taken to my childhood..it was like a village then...and my husband is from Calicut...and I got to see tharavads there...

    The post and pictures show how 'rich' your vacation memories are!

    Nice, but 'envious' post :-)

    thanks for sharing..
    see again!
    devika

    Changampuzha's lines one of my favourites too!

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  2. Thanks very much Ma'am......
    Quite honestly, this post is as a result of me missing Kannur and my folks there.
    I guess theres no place quite like Kerala. Given an opportunity, perhaps I would alternate between Ooty and Kannur during my retirement!

    Thanks very much for your comment as always!

    I read Changampuzha's Gramabhangi while in class seven. I searched the length and breadth of the internet to get it, but in vain!

    If you do come across the poem, could you please send it to me?

    Thanks very much!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  3. Whoa.. now that reminds me of my native place, precisely my mother's hometown. Those huge bungalows, more then 10 rooms where we all cousins played hide n seek :D
    Once in a year we make a visit during diwali and the crowd of relatives that gather there is superfluous, and we enjoy it to the core, needless to say you brought back those memories!
    Thanx! :))

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  4. Your post made me smile.

    Never been to Kerala, is on my list. But that doesn't take away the nice memories I have of my grandparents' place.
    A big house with 21 rooms, very big porch, a well, large kitchen, huge kitchen garden, so many cousins, aunts/uncles and hordes of memories.

    I feel like to be a part of it again.

    Thanks again for making me smile. :-)

    P.S.- This blogger id will take you to my older blogs. But you will be guided from there as well.

    Now I have my own domain with 3 blogs.
    Cuckoo

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  5. Reminds me of one of my posts..somebody very recently said on television..that for us Indians, the biggest joy/consolation is that we've great families to go back to, at the end of the day. Hence we destress much more effectively than any darn-body!! :D

    PS:yay! i'm gonna be a future malayali! :D :D

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  6. Hi Rak!

    Changampuzha's Gramabhangi which we learned in school is part of 'Ramanan'..i'm not very thorough with the verse, but
    I have a copy back home...

    i will ask my cousin to send me a scanned copy of those five stanza...it might take some time, he is a journalist and ofen on travel...

    But 'Ramanan' as it is could be bought from some DC books stall...

    i'll forward that part once I have it...

    wishes!
    devika

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  7. Hi Rak!

    Changampuzha's Gramabhangi which we learned in school is part of 'Ramanan'..i'm not very thorough with the verse, but
    I have a copy back home...

    i will ask my cousin to send me a scanned copy of those five stanza...it might take some time, he is a journalist and ofen on travel...

    But 'Ramanan' as it is could be bought from some DC books stall...

    i'll forward that part once I have it...

    wishes!
    devika

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  8. Hi Shwetz

    Yes indeed, those vacations, a dozen cousins, once-in-a-while brawls, hay-days, lots of fun and games.......... they remain only in memories now...... feels good to evoke them!

    Thanks a bunch for your visit and comments

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  9. Hi Cuckoo

    Thanks very much for visiting and also posting your comment!

    Indeed, a visit to the ancestral home means being pampered a great deal with loads of unconditional affection. They are sure memories to be cherished and re-lived!

    I certainly will visit your blogs!
    Congrats on the new domain!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  10. Hi Swati

    Thanks for coming by and posting your comment! Yes, the Indian family structure is very strong and supportive, thankfully!

    We have no qualms about getting back home even if we have been beaten hands-down by the world around! Perhaps thats the reason we take things so much for granted and moan at the smallest incident as you said!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  11. Devika Ma'am

    Yes I do remember that it was part of 'Ramanan', what I did not know was that it could be bought off the shelf! Thanks very much for the information! I will keep at it to get it, however, in the event of not being able to do so, I will write to you!

    I long to read the verses once again! ;) Miss those good old days!

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  12. nice post and great pictures of a wonderful mansion....it seems so elegant and peaceful!!...
    and it brings to me memories of my ancestoral village and the times i spent there....i went there last year......and its still the same magic there.....
    this year i hope to go there

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  13. Hi Shooting Star

    Good to see you! Thanks for coming by and posting your comment!

    Yes, a trip to the ancestral abode evokes a million cherished memories! Sadly, I am caught up so much with work that I havent been to the place for about 3 years now. Hope to make it in the year 2009.

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  14. Hi Rak!

    I know...Rak..I used remember a lot many of the lines..memory seems rusting fast..age! or bad workmenship?? :-)

    let me know if you need..I'll check the book stall here...I will get that couriered to you..

    Wishes!
    devika

    PS: Certain Kind of Woman awaits you :-)

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  15. Thanks very much Ma'am!

    Well, I wouldnt be very critical to blame 'poor memory' that is already subject to intense pressures considering the rut day in and out!

    I will let you know in case I am not able to find the book!

    Thanks so very much!

    And, I have visited the Chatline Hacked post this morning!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  16. your post just made me wander on the lanes of nostalgia for a while!!

    beautiful house and such fond memories. cherish them for they are priceless treasures of life!!

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  17. Hi Satheesh

    Thanks very much for coming and posting your comment!

    Indeed, it is a very beautiful place which is very close to my heart. I long to go there and be part of it!

    Thanks very much!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  18. Hi Rakesh..

    Absolutely gut wrenching read .. I am not too sure if that was how this was intended to be ...

    I mean, this is not the thoughts of Rakesh Vanamali, who I have had a chance to know today ... this is me ...these are my own very thoughts (no I am not claiming copyright violations here) ...

    Took me back to my "Kuttikalam" and the vacations in Alapuzha ... did get my eyes to moisten ever so slightly...

    Iwitness

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  19. Hi IWitness

    Thanks ever so much for coming by and leaving such a wonderfully impressionable comment!

    I'm very glad that I could, along with mine, echo your thoughts and evoke your memories too!

    Kuttikaalam indeed was one of my best times ever and will remain unmatched no matter how much better the future shapes up to become! I'm sure you will agree!

    Thanks once again for visiting and sharing your thoughts! Do keep coming!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  20. Great pics and nostalgic post!

    This took me bak to my childhood years when we used to go to my maternal Granma's place for holidays in the far North...now that ancient and beautiful house has been sold...:(


    Keshi.

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  21. I didnt have an ancestoral home to go back to. But we stayed as a joint family in the city. Now everybody is apart from each other in different parts of the country.

    You post was very honest and had a 'straight from the heart' feeling.

    It would be great if you could translate the words from the poem you have mentioned in the last part of your post.

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  22. Hi Keshi

    Thanks very much! Indeed, a trip back to the ancestral home brings causes a flood of memories!

    I'm sure you cherish your memories of the yester-years!

    Thanks for coming!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  23. Hi Archana

    Thanks for coming and also for your very appreciative comment!

    It is sad that the culture of nuclear families has caught up with unimaginable pace, added to which families are spread across geographies without the possibility of meeting up for years!

    The lines there talk about the beauty of the country side in Kerala. The poet, Changanpuzha, describes the scenic and serene countryside which is home to a wide variety of trees and streams!

    Thanks very much for coming! Do keep visiting!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  24. Such a palatial home... The nostalgic thoughts have been written so well.

    The first line of yours describes everything..:..Memories overwhelm me as I write this post!"

    I understand the deep attachment you have. And Kerala is a beautiful place. I've been there and intend to take my family too there some day.

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  25. Kat

    Thank you Sir for coming and posting your empathetic comment!

    Indeed, I share a very close bond with this place owing to the fact that a lot of my childhood memories that I have cherished till date have spawned from here!

    Thanks once again for visiting, Do keep coming!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  26. have heard about kerala so much even my colleague talks about it day in day out

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  27. Sorry that i didnt notice this was also ur blog :) I used to go to ur other blog. But now Im here too.


    tnxx!

    Keshi.

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  28. ok ignore that last comment by me here. I was hvn a super blonde moment. Sorry!

    Keshi.

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  29. Hi Silverline

    Thanks very much for visiting! Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  30. Hi Rakesh

    Indeed, Kerala is a lovely place....... God's own country!

    Thanks for coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  31. Sekhar

    Thanks very much! Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  32. Lol...... Keshi...... For a moment, I was wondering........!

    Take care!

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  33. The summer holidays, the family get-togethers, the grandparents, the uncle, aunts and cousins, the perfume of vegetation after the rain, the good food, the laughter, the forever-friendship with some of the cousins.
    Aren't we all the same when it comes to the real values in life? Marvellous! And thanks for bringing it up again.

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  34. This is one of the best posts I have seen and read in a long time. It evokes powerful feelings about "home" wherever that might be and the strong feelings that linger in the soul for that place. Your writing is excellent and stirs my imagination.

    I have to this day a strong feeling for my village which, unlike your beautiful home, has not survived in such pristine condition.

    Abraham Lincoln
    Brookville, Ohio

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  35. A very nice and interesting blog that I just discover! I will be back!

    Thanks for your visit to my photo blog. Appreciate your comments and may consider a "compromise". In the meantime, I would be happy if you visit my other blog, also with photos, but in smaller scale.

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  36. Oh, I found blogfriends here:)
    ( Abraham, Blognote and Peter )
    And I agree with their words, and being now grandmother for five, I hope they can get also that kind of memories for their future life.

    Thank you for your visit my site and your comment!

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  37. Hello Blognote

    Thanks so very much for coming by and leaving your wonderful comment!

    Indeed, despite the difference in language, faith and culture, as human beings we are all the same!

    What matters is to stay happy while fostering a sense of togetherness!

    Thanks very much for this wonderful comment!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  38. Hello Abraham

    Thanks so very much for visiting and posting your marvelling comment!

    I can understand how important your hometown must be to you, especially considering the many wonderful memories associated with it that you cherish!

    Thank you very much for coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  39. Hello Peter

    Thanks very much for visiting my space and leaving me with your wonderful comment!

    I certainly will make it to your other blogs!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  40. Hello Leena

    Thanks ever so much for coming and leaving me your comment! I'm very glad that you did!

    It must be very cheerful to be a granny of five! I'm sure you have a great time!

    I wish you wonderful times ahead!

    Thanks for coming

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  41. aah the joys of bonding in a joint family!!

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  42. Oh yes Magiceye! However, with the rut these days, thanks to long work hours and having to stay hundreds of miles away, one hardly gets the time to come together!

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  43. Very interesting architecture, looks like traditional style influenced by colonial style.

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  44. Oh that’s really great to be with cousins for couple of months in this Beautiful house of life. As you said it’s truly immense to the pleasure staying while with nature, and enjoying freshness together families. The pictures reflect the happiness to imagine the wanders around. Indeed rakesh!

    Thanks so much for visiting mine and encourage within your kind words :)

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  45. Hey lovely family feeling came to me at the end of that post.I too come from a very close knit family that was once a joint one and now a two blocks away from each other-nuclear one. But the charm is still there and i so love it.....

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  46. Hi Tr3nta

    Thanks very much for coming and leaving me your comment! Indeed, the place was modelled on the lines of colonial architecture.

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  47. Hi Jeevan

    Yes indeed, it is a great feeling to be part of one big family! Theres a great amount of bonding that takes place. Add the serene surroundings and one feels refreshed right down to the soul!
    The place is very close to my heart!

    Thanks so very much for coming by and leaving a wonderful comment!

    Cheers!

    Rakesh

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  48. Chirag my friend,

    Indeed a lovely feeling to be part of a huge family that stays together!

    In your case, even better since you get to enjoy the best of both, staying by yourself and still being part of the bunch!

    Thanks very much for coming! Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  49. beautiful memories, and the house looks lie it has a lot of character.

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  50. Hi Polona

    Thanks very much for coming by and leaving me your comment!

    Indeed, this house has seen atleast 65 people grow and each one of us has a lot of fond memories attached to it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  51. What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing your memories of it.

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  52. what a lovely post,reminded me of our ancestral home in jamnagar(we still have the land,the house is in ruins)i have been there twice,and was very proud to know that we have the family tree from 600 years back etched on a marble stone.
    great post this one :)

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  53. Thank you for stopping by my blog and apologisies for not getting here sooner. I seem to have been missing out on some wonderful posts, like this very personal one today.

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  54. Yes Carrie

    It is a beautiful place indeed! Thanks for coming and leaving me your comment! Do keep visiting

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  55. Hi Megha

    Thanks very much for coming by and leaving me a wonderful comment!
    You must be very proud and happy to trace your ancestry back 600 years!
    Indeed a remarkable feat considering that no one really knows past grandparents!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  56. Hello Babooshka

    Thanks very much for coming and leaving me your encouraging comment!

    Do keep visiting!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  57. such a lovely home, and such a simple and yet rich life you had back then! does anyone still live here, ke all shipped off elsewhere like you?

    i used to have something like this in my village in gujarat, no one lives there anymore :( i don't even know if dad still owns it or not :(

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  58. Aneri

    Welcome here! Thanks for visiting and also for leaving me your comment!

    Indeed, quality o life there was and still is the finest that I have ever known.

    My Granny and Aunt still live there and take immense pain in the house's upkeep

    I eventually hope to shuttle between Ooty and this place during my retired years..... hopefully!

    Thanks much!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  59. Tharavaadu, The first thing i came to know about the culture, Matrilinear!!! MTV books, The God of small things. everything fascinated me about kerala and so is this post with the lovely familial feeling.... What most can i get reading is the feeling of being at home, when i'm almost a 1k miles away from home...

    Lovely post..

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  60. Hi Seeker

    Welcome here!

    Indeed, a Tharavaad is a wonderful enterprise that once forged strong bonds and produced many a brother and sister, who lived in utter harmony and content.

    Sadly, things have changed these days and the nuclear family has emerged casting away the joint system!

    Life used to be very simply and extremely qualitative then!

    Thanks for visiting and leaving me your comment!

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